"Microsoft and Facebook announced today a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will assign to Facebook the right to purchase a portion of the patent portfolio it recently agreed to acquire from AOL. Facebook has agreed to purchase this portion for $550 million in cash." Is it just me or is Microsoft focussing more and more on peddling patents?

"Is it just me or is Microsoft focussing more and more on peddling patents?"

Microsoft's tech development (hardware and software) has been little more than a "Johnny come lately" for the past ten years. Since they can't win on that front, their best (current) option is to make others lose.